Can You Bake With Greek Yogurt Instead of Regular? (2024)

Have you ever wanted to make a recipe, only to realize you're missing one key ingredient? Say, for instance, you're making a yogurt cake, which calls for plain, whole-milk yogurt, and you've only got your go-to breakfast, Greek yogurt, in the fridge. You've got to have that cake, obvi, so what to do?

When it comes to baking, recipes are pretty specific, and fooling around with the ingredients—especially, say, the eponymous one—is generally frowned upon. But like I said, when you gotta have that cake, you gotta have that cake. So I spent a day in the Epi Test Kitchen last week experimenting with ingredients to see what could work for baking when yogurt wasn't available.

For my tests, I made a classic French yogurt cake—a simple one-bowl, mix-and-pour-into-a-pan method. I made the recipe as written, with 1 cup plain, whole-milk yogurt, then made batches that substituted 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt; 3/4 cup full-fat Greek yogurt plus 1/4 cup water (a similar consistency to regular yogurt); and, just for kicks, in case there's no yogurt around, 1 cup whole milk.

The cakes baked away and when they came out, the answer was simple: all four batches worked! But because Greek-style yogurt and milk are not exactly the same as whole-milk yogurt, there were, not surprisingly, some small differences between the cakes.

Not Really Right: Milk

Although the batter made with milk instead of yogurt did produce a cake, it was a very messy-looking one, because milk has a lot more moisture than yogurt, which made the batter much more runny. It also lacked that tangy flavor yogurt lends to baked goods.

The take-away: In a pinch, substitute buttermilk, or milk that has been spiked with a little lemon juice or vinegar (aka homemade buttermilk) and use 1/4 less milk than the amount of yogurt called for in the recipe.

Not Quite Right: Greek Yogurt

The cake made with Greek yogurt puffed up more than the original cake and its texture was a little bit tough. As Janet Fletcher, author of Yogurt: Sweet and Savory Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, explains it, "Greek yogurt has less whey so your batter will be thicker, and it has significantly more fat and protein. The extra fat will give you a little more tenderness; the extra protein will give you a little more structure, but these two things actually cancel each other out." Although this cake was just fine, it wasn't as perfect-looking, or tender, as the original.

Can You Bake With Greek Yogurt Instead of Regular? (2024)

FAQs

Can you substitute Greek yogurt for regular in baking? ›

Greek yogurt is frequently used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes, but also makes a great ingredient substitute in a pinch, and can be used in baking.

How does Greek yogurt affect baking? ›

Its creaminess helps keep baked goods moist. Its tanginess imparts a crave-worthy, old-fashioned flavor. Its acidity helps activate baking soda, which can make baked goods fluffy and light. It can step in for sour cream, mayonnaise or crème fraîche, bringin the same tangy with less guilt.

How to make Greek yogurt vs regular? ›

Greek yogurt is made by straining out the extra whey in regular yogurt, which makes the yogurt thicker, creamier and tangier than regular yogurt. While plain Greek yogurt has less sugar and more protein than regular yogurt, the latter delivers almost twice the bone-strengthening mineral calcium.

Can Greek yogurt replace eggs in baking? ›

Yogurt. For this egg substitute, use 1/4 cup per egg. If you need to avoid dairy, you can use thick Greek-style plant-based yogurts. Most other non-dairy yogurts might be too thin to substitute for eggs in baking, so keep this in mind.

Does Greek yogurt taste like regular yogurt? ›

The main difference is that Greek yogurt is strained. So, it has a much thicker consistency and a tangier taste. If you're trying to decide between Greek or regular yogurt, both are healthy options. Greek yogurt is a fermented dairy product popular worldwide.

What type of Greek yogurt for baking? ›

In sum, Wallaby is the best Greek yogurt for cooking because of three key attributes: tanginess, silkiness, and not-too-thickness.

Will Greek yogurt curdle when baked? ›

Any low fat dairy will curdle if combined with acid and heated, so yogurt – which is both acidic and lower in fat – is particularly susceptible to curdling.

Is sour cream or Greek yogurt better for baking? ›

While sour cream sets the stage for a denser, more traditional cake, the inclusion of Greek yogurt can often lead to a lighter, health-conscious choice with a subtler finish, perfect for those who enjoy a less heavy dessert.

What happens if you cook Greek yogurt? ›

Our creamy, tangy Greek Yogurt is a great substitution for sour cream or other high-fat cream in soups, sauces and stews. But heat can cause yogurt to separate, so whisk it in off the heat at the end, gently re-warming the dish over low heat if necessary, but not letting it simmer or boil.

Why does Greek yogurt taste sour? ›

Yes, bacteria — but these bacteria are good. They don't harm you. According to Scientific American magazine, the bacteria's job is to break down, or ferment, the lactose sugars in the milk and turn them into lactic acid in a process known as fermentation. Lactic acid is what gives yogurt its sour taste.

Can you bake with Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt? ›

So to substitute Greek-style yogurt for American-style yogurt in baked goods, remember this rule: Use only two-thirds of the amount of Greek yogurt called for in the recipe and make up the difference with water.

What does yogurt do to cake? ›

You might wrinkle your nose at the thought of adding greek yoghurt to your cake mixture, but it's a great way to ensure a moist bake, while also reducing the fat content. Yep, the nifty ingredient can be used as a substitute or partial substitute for butter or oil in cakes and bakes.

Can Greek yogurt replace butter in baking? ›

Greek yogurt can also be used as a butter substitute, although it will create breads and muffins with a more dense texture.

Can you replace butter with Greek yogurt in baking? ›

Greek yogurt can also be used as a butter substitute, although it will create breads and muffins with a more dense texture.

Can you replace cream cheese with Greek yogurt in baking? ›

Greek yogurt is a great alternative to cream cheese. It also gives your favorite dishes a healthy twist because it's rich in protein, calcium, and vitamin B12 ( 3 ). Use an equal amount of Greek yogurt in place of cream cheese to make dips, spreads, frostings, and baked goods.

Can you replace sour cream with Greek yogurt in baking? ›

Full-fat Greek yogurt will offer the closest approximation of sour cream's flavor and texture, and can be used as a one-to-one replacement for sour cream. If you'd like, you can stir some heavy cream into any percentage of Greek yogurt to give it a somewhat richer body and higher fat content.

Can you substitute Greek yoghurt for cream in recipes? ›

Greek yogurt and milk

Blend together equal parts Greek yogurt and whole milk and use it in place of the same amount of heavy cream. Note that this substitute can add thickness to dishes like soups or sauces, but it shouldn't be used in recipes that require whipping.

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